What is working memory?

Working memory is a subset of your short term memory, it is the shortest of all your memory and only lasts for a couple of seconds.  We can train the brain to remember more information by using techniques such as Neuroplasticity.

Can drumming enhance your working memory?

This is the research I am currently involved in.  In short, I believe it can, I believe drumming can enhance your working memory, due to the technical pattern recall that drummers need to achieve when playing their instrument, however, we need to achieve a good level of research on this in order to prove this theory.

To start and to test this theory at a low level I have set up two tests.

  • Digit Span Test 
  • KIMS Game

Digit Span - The digit span test devised using George Armitage Miller formula from his famous article ‘The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two’ ‘which he said that we can hold seven items in short-term memory, plus or minus two

KIMS Game - A famous visual memory test, which test memory allocation and recollection.

I have selected 5 participants to take part from Triple-T Drumming School of Drums, between the ages of 10-16 and between RSL Grade 3-4.

Keep a look out for results of this low level research and some low level conclusions coming soon.

Miller, G. (1955). [online] Www2.psych.utoronto.ca. Available at: http://www2.psych.utoronto.ca/users/peterson/psy430s2001/Miller%20GA%20Magical%20Seven%20Psych%20Review%201955.pdf [Accessed 20 Aug. 2019].